Under the building of the People's Committee of the Interior in Khabarovsk, two jeeps parked on the side of the road almost at the same time, the doors opened, and two men in the uniforms of the captain of the People's Committee of the Interior got out of one car.

"Hey, Anthope!" The tall, serious-looking one of the two took the lead when he saw the other. He was taken aback for a moment, and then his serious face showed surprise.

"Boris?!" The other captain wearing glasses and gentleman heard his voice and turned his head, with an incredible expression on his somewhat handsome face.

"Why are you here?" The tall man named Boris walked over quickly, gave him a hug, and said in excitement, "I heard that you didn't transfer to Leningrad?"

"I think the reason why I'm here should be the same as you," An Jipu punched the opponent's chest hard and laughed.

"You also received the notice?" Boris suddenly realized, he smiled, "I rushed over immediately after receiving the notice. In terms of time, you obviously received the notice earlier than me."

"I sent the notice at the same time. You received it late because you are in a war zone." On the steps of the building behind the two, a woman's voice came, "Well, what are you waiting for? Come back, Victor is still waiting to see you."

The woman's voice attracted the attention of the two at the same time, and then the two cried out in surprise: "Sophia?!"

"Ha, I didn't expect you to be here too!" Antip first rushed up the steps, hugged Sofia firmly, and said excitedly, "Did you also come here after receiving the notice?"

"No, I've been here for a while," Sophia hugged Boris again, and then led the two of them toward the building, while saying, "Victor needs manpower by his side, in fact, I wanted to take you It was transferred, but at that time it lacked sufficient authority."

The two people who came were Antip and Boris who had followed Victor in Lviv. A few days ago, Victor made a special report and transferred the two long-separated subordinates back to him.

As the saying goes: "Clothes are not as good as new, and people are not as good as they are." In terms of employing people, people who are acquainted and familiar with it are more at ease and easier to use.

While walking and introducing the latest situation, Sophia took the two to Victor's office.

In the office, Victor is looking at a war briefing from Moscow about the Stalingrad front.

After entering August, in order to reverse the passive situation in Stalingrad, the Soviet army launched two consecutive assault operations on the east and west wings, centering on the city that has been reduced to ruins, in an attempt to push the frontal German forces back. Alleviate the anxious war situation in Stalingrad.

The two assault operations were personally commanded by Comrade Zhukov. The troops that launched the assault operations included the main forces of the three armies. Unfortunately, the German defense line was very strong. The two consecutive assaults did not achieve any results, but caused the Soviet army to lose. heavy.

Subsequently, the Soviet army chose to launch an offensive from the north from the Bryansk Front to the German flank. As a result, another defeat was achieved.

The losses suffered in three successive offensives forced the Soviet army to adjust its deployment and devote its main energy to the defensive operations in the center of Stalingrad. At the same time, it continued to accumulate strength and prepare for the next offensive operation.

Although all three Soviet offensives failed and suffered huge losses, it was impossible for the Germans to be unscathed. They also suffered heavy losses. For this reason, after entering late August, the Germans were in Stalingrad. The offensive in the direction has also stalled, and it is estimated that the troops are being prepared.

Now, the General Staff has determined the next battle plan, which is to drag the German army in the direction of Stalingrad by defense at all costs, to wait for the arrival of winter, and thus to drag down the German logistics supplies. Chance to win.

At present, the General Staff has once again turned its attention to the Caucasus. With the continuous advancement of the German army on this line, Grozny has also begun to be threatened. Those ethnic separatists who have hidden evil intentions continue to launch rebellions in the Transcaucasian region. The Transcaucasian Front Army fighting by the Germans caused great trouble.

A week ago, the NKVD made a decision to transfer Abakumov to Transcaucasus to be responsible for suppressing bandits and rebellion in the region. As soon as he arrived in the Transcaucasus, the “new star” of the People’s Committee of the Interior, who was increasingly iron-fist In the circumstances, he was executed.

Subsequently, the Transcaucasian civilian police and border guard systems carried out large-scale adjustments. Many Armenian civilian police and border guard soldiers were adjusted to the Chechen-Ingushetia region, while those from Turkey and Chechnya and border guard soldiers Was transferred to Armenia to counter the rebellion.

I have to admit that Abakumov’s method of using the old contradictions between different ethnic groups to counter the rebellion is very cruel, but also very efficient. For historical reasons, the Armenians hate the Turks and the Chechens who believe in Islam. Therefore, they often acted proactively in the process of suppressing the Chechen rebellion. In turn, the same thing is happening in Armenia.

In Victor’s view, Abakumov, a guy who didn’t go to school, was indeed a bit crooked. He was ruthless and smart enough, but the problem was that he was looking at him because he didn’t go to school very much. When it comes to questions, it is inevitable to be short-sighted.

The measures he adopted in the Transcaucasus region are indeed easy to work in the short term, but in the long run, this approach has too many drawbacks. At least, it is very unfavorable to ethnic integration and long-term stability of the region.

When Victor finished reading the document, Sophia took Boris into the office and saw two former subordinates appear in front of him. Victor closed the document in front of him and stood up with a smile.

"The National Security People’s Committee has just been established." In the office, Victor sat on the sofa and threw a pack of cigarettes to Antip on the opposite side. He continued on the topic just now, "All aspects of work are still in the development stage. Lack, especially experienced intelligence agents. I invite you over this time just to ask your opinions, whether you are interested in changing jobs and come to the National Security People’s Committee to help me."

Opposite Antip and Boris glanced at each other. There is no doubt that for them, this invitation is difficult to refuse. To be precise, neither of them had thought to refuse.

Recall that when the group was still in Lviv, Victor was one level above them, but now? The gap between the two sides is too great.

It is actually difficult to accurately assess a person's work ability and performance, and it will be affected by all aspects. Why do people with backgrounds tend to be better, more confident, and more aggressive at work? It's not that he is born like that. One of the big factors is that because there are people behind him, he dares to speak, dare to do things, and express different opinions. Those who have no background and no support will be more cautious in many things, so that they dare not express their attitude easily.

What is certain is that Antip and Boris have not been very happy in the past period of time. One of them is in charge of logistics planning, the other is in charge of propaganda and agitation, and they are in the NKVD. It belongs to the marginal sector, coupled with the time of war, which can give them even fewer opportunities to perform.

Now, Victor summons them to come over, what reason do they have for not coming? Would it be better for the People’s Committee of the Interior to eat and wait to die than to open up a new world in the Ministry of the People’s Committee of National Security?

"If you have no objections, then I think you have acquiesced," Victor smiled, and he leaned back in the sofa chair and said, "I will submit your transfer report later. Well, for this period of time, I I hope you can put more effort into intelligence analysis. I am not satisfied with the previous work of the NKVD on intelligence analysis. Therefore, this aspect will be the focus in the next work."

"Okay, comrade committee," the two men stood up and said at the same time.

Behind the scenes, when talking with Sofia, they would call Victor by name, but in front of people, or in front of Victor, naturally they can't be so casual. They are all old agents. This taboo is still not violated. of.

"I..." Victor wanted to say something, and at this moment, the open door was knocked gently.

Turning to look over, a female soldier in a skirt was standing at the door holding a thick stack of documents. Seeing Victor's gaze, she said: "Comrade Committee members, Moscow has transferred important information provided by the Chinese government. ."

Victor was shocked and immediately stood up from the sofa and said, "Come in."

After speaking, he turned his head to look at the two of Anthope, and said apologetically: "I will let Sophia arrange your stay first, take a good rest for two days, and then arrange specific work."

"Yes, comrade committee," Antipu and the two hurriedly got up and said.

Sending the two to the door and watching them walk away with Sophia, Victor eagerly returned to the desk, taking the documents sent by the female soldier, and asked: "Is the information from ZG not delivered yet? ?"

"It's not clear yet," the female soldier replied.

"Okay, I see," Victor said casually, sitting in the chair behind his desk, and began to look through the documents in front of him.